06/02/2020

Paul Quinn: Conor Murphy Issues Apology

Finance Minister Conor Murphy has issued an apology over claims he made that an IRA murder victim was a criminal.

Paul Quinn's family accepted the apology but said it doesn't meet their request of clearing their son's name.

The 21 year-old from Co Armagh was beaten to death in Co Monaghan in 2007.

Shortly after Mr Quinn's murder, Sinn Fein MLA Conor Murphy linked him to criminality. He withdrew those comments earlier this week.

"I have consistently and unreservedly condemned the murder of Paul Quinn," Minister Murphy said.

"Those who murdered him are criminals and need to be brought to justice.

"I repeat my call on anyone with any information on his murder to bring it to the Gardaí or the PSNI.

"I very much regret comments I made in the aftermath of Paul's murder which have added to the grief felt by the Quinn family.

"I apologise for those remarks and I unreservedly withdraw them.

"Once again I offer to meet the Quinn family at a time and place of their convenience."

The victim's mother Breege said she accepts the apology but wants the Minister to give IRA names to gardaí.

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood yesterday raised the issue in the House of Commons.

The Foyle MP called for the lies about Mr Quinn to be retracted, a public apology to be issued and for Conor Murphy to submit his information to the PSNI.



(JG/CM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2024
Minister Murphy Raises Economic Concerns in London
Economy Minister Conor Murphy today raised a number of key economic issues with British Government Ministers during a visit to London.
21 November 2024
UK Education Ministers Meet In Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland hosted the fifth UK Education Ministers' Council (EMC) meeting at Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn.
01 November 2012
Quinns Due Back In Court
Sean Quinn and his son are due back in a Dublin court later as the inquiry continues as to whether or not the former billionaires have complied with court orders. Sean Quinn was once the richest man in Ireland, but declared himself bankrupt last year.
15 April 2011
Quinn Barred From Own Insurance Firm
A leading Irish entrepreneur is to loose control of the insurance business he personally founded after it ran into financial problems. Sean Quinn and his family will no longer have any role in the management of the Quinn Group following a restructure.
17 February 2020
Paul Quinn: Parents Hold Talks At Stormont
The bereaved parents of Paul Quinn have taken the matter of their son's murder to Stormont. Breege Quinn repeated her call for Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy to publicly state that her son was not a criminal. The 21 year-old was beaten to death in a barn near Oram, Co Monaghan in 2007. His mother maintains that the IRA was behind the killing.